How to Clear Facebook Messenger Cache on Phone and PC
Is the Facebook Messenger app acting up on your phone and PC? Clearing the Facebook Messenger cache can help if you’re experiencing slow load times,disappearing chat heads,trouble sending videos, or want tofree up storage space. This guide will walk you through the steps to clear Messenger cache on your phone and computer.
Table of Contents
What Is Facebook Messenger’s Cache and Why Clear It
To provide faster app-load times, the Facebook Messenger app stores a copy of commonly used elements – text, emojis, and other elements. When you chat with friends and view photos, videos, or GIFs, Messenger saves copies of these things on your phone or computer. The app stores them as a ‘cache’, which is like a reserve, to load those elements quickly the next time you open the app and access a particular conversation.
Over time, the amount of cache on your phone and computer can bloat up. Mostly since there is no upper limit to the cache storage size assigned. Too much cache can slow down your phone and make your experience sluggish. So, it’s good to clear out cache whenever you experience the Messenger getting slow.
Clearing Facebook Messenger cache won’t delete your chats or media. Those items are stored on Meta’s servers and just the digital copy of the same is removed from your computer. By default, Facebook Messenger starts storing a new batch of cache on your phone and computer.
How to Clear Facebook Messenger Cache on Android
It’s quite easy to clear cache of an app on any Android phone or tablet. Here’s how to clear it for Facebook Messenger:
1.OpenSettingson your Android phone.
2.Navigate toApps>See all appsand chooseMessengerfrom the list.
3.Tap onStorageand hit theClear cachebutton.
How to Clear Facebook Messenger Cache on iPhone
iOS doesn’t allow you to clear app cache directly due to how it manages app storage and data. However, there are two methods you can use to achieve a similar result:
Uninstall and Reinstall Messenger
This involves completely removing the app and its cached data from your iPhone. To do this:
Download:Facebook Messenger (iPhone)
Offload the Messenger App
If you want to free up storage space while keeping your data intact, you can offload the app. This will remove the app but keep its data on your iPhone. To do this:
When you reinstall the offloaded app, your documents and data will be restored.
How to Clear Facebook Messenger Cache From Browsers
Clearing the cache for Facebook Messenger from web browers is straightforward and you don’t have to wipe all data. Here’s how to wipe Messenger cache from popular browsers.
Google Chrome
1.Open the Messenger website in Chrome. Click thepadlock or settings iconin the address bar.
Visit:Facebook Messenger
2.Click onSite Settings.
3.On the next screen, clickDelete Data.
4.ClickDeleteto confirm.
1.Open Safari. Click onSafariin the menu bar and selectSettings.
2.Click onPrivacy>Manage Website Data.
3.SelectMessengerfrom the list and clickRemove.
Clearing cache on the web will only affect your browser’s cache, not the app cache on your phone or computer. It also will not delete your conversations or personal data.
How to Clear Facebook Messenger Cache on Mac
Unlike web browsers, the Messenger app for Mac doesn’t have a built-in option to clear cache. However, you may try the following methods:
This is the most straightforward way to clear Messenger cache on Mac.
1.Quit the Messenger app. OpenFinderand navigate to theApplicationsfolder.
2.Right-click the Messenger app and click onMove to Trash.
3.Empty the trash. Download and reinstall Messenger from the official website.
Download:Messenger for Mac
Use a Third-Party App (CleanMyMac X)
Third-party apps like CleanMyMac X can help you clear app cache and other junk files on your Mac. Here’s how:
1.Install CleanMyMac X from App Store. Open it and go to theSystem Junkmenu.
2.Scan your Mac and review the details forUser Cache Files.
3.Select the checkbox forMessenger.app Cacheand clickClean.
Download:CleanMyMac X for Mac
How to Clear Facebook Messenger Cache on Windows
The Facebook Messenger app for Windows doesn’t have a direct option to clear cache. However, there are a couple of ways you can attempt to remove cached data:
This method will completely remove the app and its cached data from your Windows PC.
1.Click onStart buttonand selectAll apps.
2.FindMessengerin the list of apps. Right-click on it and clickUninstall.
3.Download and reinstall Messenger from the Microsoft Store.
Download:Messenger for Windows
Delete Cache Files Manually
1.Press theWindows key + Rkeyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box.
2.Type the following command and press Enter:
3.Locate and open the folder namedFacebook.[random string of letters and numbers].
4.Open theLocalCachefolder. Select all files and folders within it and pressDelete.
5.Deleting these files might sign you out of Messenger, and you’ll need to log back in.
Declutter Your Facebook Messenger
By following the steps in this guide, you’re able to easily clear the cache for Facebook Messenger on your phone or computer. This can help resolve many common issues, like slow loading or glitchy chats, and free up valuable storage space on your device. Keep your Messenger running smoothly and enjoy a clutter-free experience.
Parth Shah
Parth previously worked at EOTO.tech covering tech news. He is currently freelancing at TechWiser, Android Police, and GuidingTech writing about apps comparisons, tutorials, software tips and tricks, and diving deep into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms.
